Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded party members not to politicise religion but instead use politics as a field to fight for Islam.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister said, the party could be used as a tool to ward off any negative agenda against Islam such as the Islamophobia and the spread of the IS militant group.

"The agenda of denigrating Islam is a new method to divide the Muslims, and Muslims are often trapped by the hidden agenda which resulted in disunity among us," he said when launching the 'Puteri Daulat Islam Agama Negara' (Dian) movement in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, Ahmad Zahid said, the Islamic struggle by members of Umno must be done without 'oppressing' other religions.

"If we want our religion to be respected, we must respect other religions too," he said.

On 'Puteri Dian', the Puteri Umno team which will go down on the ground to explain issues concerning religion, Ahmad Zahid said he believed that the team would ward off negative elements which were tarnishing Islam.

He also hoped that Puteri Umno would always be ready to lead the country in the future.

Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the 'Puteri Dian' team had been given skills training to address the issue of religion.

Since its inception in July, the team has recruited 1,500 members consisting of Puteri Umno members, non-governmental organisations and the public, she said.

She said the team would help to change negative perceptions of non-Muslims about Islam.

- Bernama